Cushioned wheel



' M. F. KETTLER CUSHIONED WHEEL Filed Dec. 5, 1919 (awe M501;

Patented Mar. 6, 1223.

EFT

as. H

cusnrennn WHEEL.

Original application filed January 28, 1919, Serial No. 273,547. Divided and this application filed Decemher 3, 1913.

vention is to provide for a positive connection between the seating member for the pneumatic cushion of the wheel and hub and face plates of the wheel and to provide an improved anti-friction bearing between the said cushion and the floating rim of the wheel so that in the relative displacement of the body and rim under driving conditions, there will be no tearing strain imposed upon the pneumatic cushion.

This application is a division of my copending application filed January 28, 1919,

Serial No. 273,547, patented April 18, 1922,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figurel is a diametrical sectional view through the vehicle wheel embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in a plane at right angles to the plane in Fig. 1 illustrating the anti-friction means provided.

In the drawings the hub of the wheel is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and the said hub is formed interiorly so as to fit the spindle upon which the wheel is to be rotatably mounted. This hub is provided near its inner end and exteriorly with a circumscribing flange 2 and fitted onto this end of the hub and resting at its inner face against the said flange, is the inner face plate of the wheel body indicated by the numeral 3, this face plate at its center and surrounding the opening which receives the said end of the hub, being formed with a laterally extending bearing flange a fitting the hub end. In addition to means to be presently more specifically described, rivets or other suitable securing elements 5 are employed for securing the face plate 3 to the flange 2 so that this face plate constitutes in effect an integral part of the hub and is, consequently, rigid with relation thereto. The outer face plate of the wheel Serial No. 342,107.

body is indicated by the numeral 6 and the same is formed at its central portion with an opening 7 adapting it to be fitted onto the outer end of the hub, the inner face of the face plate at its portion surrounding bolts ll'being secured through the marginal portion of the cap and into the end of the hub.

The wheel embodies a cushioning member housed Within the body of thewheel and 'the cushion is'fitted upon a seating member indicated in general by the numeral 12 and comprising an annular body split circumferentially to comprise two sections which are fitted together and upon the intermediate. port-ion of the hub, snugly surrounding the said hub and secured together and rigid with relation to the hub and to the face plates of the wheel body, by means of bolts 13 which are fitted through aligned openings in outstanding flanged 14 constituting a part of the seating member 12, through the face plates 3 and 6, the flange 2, and spacing collars 15 and 16 which latter are fitted upon the end portions of the bolts and bear respectively between the flange 2 of the hub and the adjacent flange 14 of the seating member,and between the face plate -6 and the adjacent flange of the said seating member. Nuts 17 are threaded onto the ends of the bolts 13 and bear against the outer faces of the face plates 3 and 6. It will be evident that the seating member 12 is held rigid with relation to the hub and to the face plates of the wheel body and consequently cannot turn upon the hub or become otherwise displaced with relation thereto. The seating member 12 further includes a bridge portion 18 which extends between the flanges 14: and is rigid with the said flanges, being, however, divided circumferentially as before explained, so as to permit of the two sections of the seating member and the pneumatic cushion being conveniently assembled.

The pneumatic cushion is indicated in general by the numeral 19 and the same com-- prises a body open around its inner side so as to permit of the introduction thereinto of a pneumatic tube 20. The outer side of the body 19 of the casing is thickened, as indicated by the numeral 21. In order that the tube 20 may be inflated, an inflating valve is provided and this valve has a stem extending laterally through one of the flanges 1 1 of the seating member and through the face plate 6.

The numeral 28 indicates in general the floating. rim of the wheel and this rim is disposed, between the marginal portions of the face plates 3 and Gso that it may have variable movement radial to the hub 1. The rim is provided with any suitable means as indicated by the numeral 29 to seat any de sired type of solid tire indicated by the numeral 30. At intervals the rim is formed with transversely extending cylindrical openingsor pockets 31 which open through the opposite sides faces of the rim. The numeral 32 indicates bolts which are shouldered at their ends and have their reduced ends fitted through openings 33 and 34 formed in aligned position through the said marginal portions of the face plates of the wheel body, nuts 35 being applied to the ends of these bolts and bearing against the outer face of the said face plates so as to secure the said marginal portions of the said plates to the bolts. A sleeve 37 of any suitable bearing metal has vulcanized upon it a hard rubber sleeve indicated by the numeral 38 and this sleeve 38 in turn has vulcanized upon it a soft rubber sleeve 39 of an external diameter less than the diameter of the respective opening or pocket- 31. The sleeve 37 is rotatably fitted upon the respective bolt 32 so that the buffers comprising the sleeves 37, 38 and 39 may rotate freely upon the bolts and may be adapted to have bearing upon the different portions of the walls 31 under driving conditions.

The inner peripheral portion of the body of the rim is indicated by the numeral :0 and the same is cylindrical and smoothly finished. An annulus 429 is disposed within the circumference of the portion 40 of the rim and is provided at one side with an outstanding flange 50 and at its other side with a flange 51 which latter is, however,v removable and is secured in place by means of screws or other suitable fastening elements 52. The flanges 50 and 51 engage the sides or edges of the inner peripheral portion 4L0 of the floating rim so as to prevent lateral menace displacement of these parts. The outer surface of the annulus 49 is formed with circumferentially extending channels 58 designed to receive lubricant which will serve to reduce friction between the annulus and the said peripheral portion 40 of the floating rim.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that under running conditions, the buffer sleeves will be brought into engagement with various portions of the walls of the pockets 31 so as to connect theWh'eel body and floating rim for movement in unison. However, due to the fact that the rim may float with relation to the body, and due to the further fact that the pneumatic cushion is provided between the hub and the rim, the axis of the rim may be displaced with relation to the axis of the hub when obstructions are met with, although the cushion will tend to maintain these axes in coincidence. It will also be evident that while the rim and annulus may have relative circum fcrential movement, the parts are suitably lubricated by the lubricant retained within the grooves or channels 53.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a cushioned wheel, a hub, a seating member surrounding the hub and rotatable therewith, a pneumatic cushion upon the seating member, a floating rim, and a hearing member surrounding the cushion and in contact at its outer periphery with the inner periphery of the rim and provided with a circumscribing lubricant channel, the said bearing member having side flanges engaging the lateral edges of the rim whereby to prevent relative lateral displacement of the said parts.

2. In a cushioned wheel, a hub, a seating member surrounding the hub and rotatable therewith, a pneumatic cushion upon the seating member, a floating rim, and a bear ing member surrounding the cushion and in contact at its outer periphery with the inner periphery of the rim and provided with a circumscribing lubricant channel, said bearing member being provided at one side with an outwardly projecting flange engaging one lateral edge of the rim, and a flange removably secured vto the bearing member at its opposite side and engaging the other lateral edge of the rim.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN r. KETTLER. a s.] 

